Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically Black university.
The Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.

FAMU is well-known for its Marching "100" Band—which has a long history of violent hazing
incidents. Investigators learned in May 2012 that more than 100 members of the marching band were NOT registered students.

In other news: The Marching 100 had been suspended for about 21 months after Champion's death. The suspension has been removed and the band returned to the field in early September for the school's season-opening football game against Mississippi Valley State. Despite the unresolved death of Robert Champion, life goes on for the FAMU Marching 100 ... and the university's multi-million dollar football program.

10 June 2013

Rikki Wills and Shawn Turner become the latest defendants to receive probationary sentences for their part in the death of Robert Champion, the 26-year-old Florida A&M University drum major who died in November 2011 after a savage hazing from fellow band members. Robert Champion was also gay—and that may have been “among” the reasons why he was beaten so viciously, according to the family’s attorney.

The house arrest and probationary sentences do not "send a strong enough message" to deter the culture of hazing, said Pamela Champion, the mother of the deceased FAMU drum major.

Robert Champion's mother was present in court and spoke after the sentencing. Watch the video clip AFTER THE JUMP ...

Rikki Wills will not spend any time in prison after pleading no contest to hazing charges. According to Wills’ lawyer, part of his community control punishment means he has to stay on home confinement, unless he is going to work.

During a status hearing, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a manslaughter charge against the 25-year-old in exchange for his plea. He could potentially have to testify against his former bandmates, if they go to trial. Prosecutors said Wills was present when Champion was beaten by other band members on a bus parked outside an Orlando hotel after the November 2011 Florida Classic game. He later died from his injuries.

Fourteen former band members pleaded "not guilty
in April to charges of manslaughter in connection with the case. "Former band members Ryan
Dean and Brian Jones received community-service sentences last year.
Another band member, Caleb Jackson, is expected to receive prison time
when he is sentenced later this year," adds UPI.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically Black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki. FAMU is well-known for its Marching "100" Band—which has a long history of violent hazing
incidents. The Marching 100 has been suspended since Champion's death.

Champion's parents publicly revealed
in January 2012 that their son was gay. In addition to being vocally opposed
to hazing, Champion's sexuality could have been among the
reasons why he was viciously beaten during the attack, according to the family's attorney.

Rikki Wills offered an apology to Robert Champion's parents, who were present in court. Watch Pam Champion speak AFTER THE JUMP ...

Turner will likely receive a community-service sentence similar to those imposed on other band members who have admitted they were present at the hazing, Orange-Osceola assistant state attorney Nicole Pegues said. Prosecutors will drop the manslaughter count in the agreement, which requires Turner to provide investigators with detailed testimony about Nov. 19, 2011, hazing that killed Champion.

Like Rikki Wills, who pleaded no contest last month, Turner has insisted he was only trying to shield Champion from the punches, kicks and drumstick strikes on a charter bus in the Rosen Plaza hotel parking lot. No one has acknowledged striking Champion during the ritual known as "Crossing Bus C," but detectives estimated he absorbed 300 blows while running through a gauntlet of bandmates.

Fourteen former band members pleaded "not guilty in April to charges of manslaughter in connection with the case. Turner becomes the fourth to have pleaded no contest to felony hazing or
manslaughter. Champion's former roommate Rikki Wills pleaded "no contest" last month and is expected to be sentenced on Friday. "Former band members Ryan Dean and Brian Jones received community-service sentences last year. Another band member, Caleb Jackson, is expected to receive prison time when he is sentenced later this year," adds UPI.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically Black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.

Wills, 25, will be sentenced [on June 7]. But he will not face a jail sentence, said Assistant State Attorney Nicole Pegues.

Wills, who was set to stand trial Monday, accepted a plea offer from prosecutors who hope to use his testimony to build a stronger case against the 11 remaining defendants in the hazing scandal that led to the suspension of the iconic Florida A&M University band. [P]rosecutors dropped the manslaughter charge that Wills had faced. That charge carried a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically Black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.

09 May 2013

There are several new developments in the case of Robert Champion, the 26-year-old Florida A&M University drum major who died in November 2011 after a vicious hazing from fellow band members. Champion was gay.

Champion's former roommate has rejected a plea deal and "is set to become the first ex-band member to go to trial in the case," reports the Orlando Sentinel. Jury selection for the trial of former FAMU drum major Rikki Wills is scheduled to begin May 13.

[Defense attorney] Bill Hancock, who did not reveal the state's offer, and assistant state attorney Nicole Pegues estimated the trial will take at least four days to present evidence, and both predicted that publicity over the tragedy might hamper efforts to seat a jury.

Fourteen ex-band members have been charged in Champion's death, including three who have pleaded no contest to felony hazing or manslaughter. At least one of those three, Caleb Jackson, is expected to testify at Wills' trial, Pegues said.

In other news: Champion's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against FAMU, the bus company and an Orlando hotel, claiming they willingly allowed illegal hazing acts over many years. Last week, a judge rejected FAMU's argument that Champion "was a voluntary 'participant' in the illegal hazing
that killed him." The lawsuit will continue.

A handful of students, as well as the father of a FAMU student, pleaded Thursday with the university board of trustees to help them. "The efforts put forth to eradicate the culture of hazing has gone overboard," Inita Knox told trustees during a meeting held on FAMU's campus.... While the university would not provide exact details, the school's
new anti-hazing administrator said that 15 students have been dismissed
this year so far over hazing allegations.

A FAMU sorority was investigated for hazing this past February after someone posted a complaint on the university anti-hazing website. The Tallahassee Democrat reported late last month that the Leon County Sheriff's Office decided against pursuing criminal charges in the case. ... That led to the university decision to dismiss several students from school - some for periods up to five years.

A report said pledges were forced to do exercise squats and memorize information about sorority members during the gathering. A pledge of Delta Sigma Theta passed out during the session and was eventually interviewed by police. She told trustees that she had a heart condition and that she had tried to hand over that information to university officials but that she and other pledges had been given the "runaround."

The anti-hazing regulations are "too harsh" ... say the parents whose children are still alive.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.

FAMU is well-known for its Marching "100" Band—which has a long history of violent hazing
incidents. The Marching 100 has been suspended since Champion's death.
The university will make a decision by May on reinstating the band, reports Tallahassee's WCTV.

More than a dozen former band members pleaded "not guilty" on Friday to
charges of manslaughter in connection with the case, reports the AP and
the Orlando Sentinel.

Circuit Judge Marc Lubet, who has presided over the cases against 14 former members of Florida A & M University's celebrated marching band ... set Aug. 2 as his deadline for defendants to accept the state's plea deals – or face a trial.

Most of the defendants had pleaded not guilty last year to felony hazing, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. But prosecutors added two defendants, Darryl Cearnel and Henry "Snacks" Nesbitt, and upgraded the potential risk to ex-band members last month adding a charge of manslaughter, which carries a maximum prison term of 15 years.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.

The move comes after 12 former FAMU band members were charged with manslaughter in connection with the vicious hazing death of Robert Champion, the 26-year-old Florida A&M University drum major who died in November 2011 after a vicious hazing from fellow band members. Champion was gay. As a result of the investigation, FAMU has been put on probation by an accrediting agency.

Suspending the search has the
effect of making Interim President Larry Robinson's term open-ended. [Solomon L. Badger III, chairman of the Florida A&M University
board of trustees] said he acted so Robinson can concentrate on getting the college off probationary status.

FAMU was put on probation in December by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools in the wake of the band hazing death of Marching
100 drum major Robert Champion in Orlando. The SACS report said that the college was failing to meet
basic educational standards when it comes to finances, student safety,
operational "integrity" and leadership.

Former FAMU president James Ammons was pushed out last July amid widespread criticism after Champion's death.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.

FAMU is well-known for its Marching "100" Band—which has a long history of violent hazing
incidents. Investigators learned in May 2012 that more than 100 members of the marching band were NOT registered students.

According to an 89-page investigative summary of Champion's death, Orange County sheriff's detectives spoke with several band members who said they saw [Jackson] pulling on Champion or jumping on the drum major. Because Jackson had a prior battery conviction, he faces "the specter of more prison time than anyone else" charged in the case, [his attorney Chuck Hobbs] said.... Hobbs said prosecutors made no promises on sentencing..

A dozen ex-band members, including Jackson, are charged with felony hazing and manslaughter in Champion's death. Prosecutors, without explanation, beefed up the charges [on March 4], notifying defense lawyers by email. The manslaughter charge carries a possible 15-year prison sentence.

Ryan Dean, whop was given a probationary, community-service sentence
for his role in Champion's death, provided the signed statement to
Orange County prosecutors. In his statement, Dean identified defendant LaSherry
Codner who, he says, punched Champion and held him back from reaching
the rear of the bus as he absorbed kicks and punches from other band
members. Dean also described defendant Benjamin McNamee holding onto the
rails of the bus as he appeared to be kicking Champion after he had
fallen into a seat.
Dean named others as well.

Florida A&M University is the state's only public, historically black university. The
Tallahassee-based university was founded in 1887 "and it is the largest
historically black university in the United States by enrollment,"
according to its Wiki.